The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1920. ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1920. ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION.

I Whether it is the government of l .a country or the conduct of a business concern, large or small, the measure of success depends on organisation. The larger the concern the greater is the need for effective consolidation, so that all the branches may be ably controlled, and the acknowledged head be in a position to hold the strings, exercise a general supervision, direct the policy, and stimulate progress, economy and efficiency. It should be the duty, as well as the privilege of the Government to set a worthy example in this respect; but if the test is applied to the Dominion Cabinet failure is writ large and emphatis. 1 Instead of the Premier, as head of the administration, occupying himself with the admittedly onerous duties of head of the government of the country and Leader of the House, he has taken in hand nine portfolios— Railways, Finance, Mines, Stamp Duties, Police, Land and Income Tax, State Advances, Electoral and Imperial Government Supplies. Most people would be inclined to consider that if Mr. Massey can undertake these numerous duties without detriment to himself or the public interests, then he could equally easily take over the remainder of the portfolios and run the whole uhow himself, with the assistance of additional secretaries. Of-course the idea is supremely preposterous, but no more so than the present arrangement. The country wants efficiency and is ready and willing to pay for it, but so long as departI mental control is merely nominal I the affairs of the country will be administered bureaueratically and our boasted democratic rule be a mere figure of speech. "When any reform is asked for in any matter that affects the people it can be blocked by a departmental head saying it cannot be granted, yet the main concern of a Minister should be to continually watch for progressive improvements, and if the responsible officials offer opposition without endeavoring to devise a means for carrying out what is desired, then those officials should give place to others who can and will overcome difficulties, instead of keeping in a fixed groove. There is an urgent need for a Complete re-organ-isation of Ministerial methods and responsibility so that disaster may be prevented. If there is anything in a name this work should be particularly appropriate for a Reform Government to undertake, yet it is that Government which is aggravating instead of removing the evils which have grown up and thriven lustily in connection with administrative work. At present the " go as you please" policy is woefully evident, and the country is suffering, and will suffer, until sane business principles are adopted so as to conform as nearly as possible with conditions that have been found essential by private concerns. There is no need to inquire into the reasons why Mr. Massey has deemed it necessary to, overburden himself with so many portfolios while other Ministers are only entrusted with less than should be their share of administration. The important, point is that the whole system requires recasting. For instance, the Minister'of Finance might well undertake f the control of State Advances, Stamp Duties, Land and Income Tax, Accident, Fire Insurance Customs, National Provident Departments; the Minister of Railways might also control the

Tourist and Marine Departments. The Minister of Public Works should find quite sufficient in that department to occupy his time and talents. If not, he could control Housing. The Minister of Lands might undertake Scenery Preservation, State Forests, Repatriation and Soldiers' Settlement—the only present arrangement that appears satisfactory, except that it would be advisable to add the Valuation Department. The Minister of Labor could also undertake the Departments in charge of Machinery Inspection, Mines, Immigration, Public Buildings, Industries and Commerce. The Minister of Internal Affairs could also look after the Electoral, Police, Justice, Prisoners, Hospital, and other kindred departments. The Minister of Education should find his time fairly well occupied in that department alone, but possibly could also control the Department of Public Health which has an important bearing on education. The Defence and Post and Telegraph Departments might be allocated to one Minister, together with one or two minor departments, possibly also Samoa and the Islands. Native Affair's must seemingly still rest in the hands of a Maori member. These suggestions do not cover the whole field of administration, but are promulgated as illustrating something more approaching a systematic distribution of portfolios than is the case at present, and leaving the Premier a free hand to initiate carefully considered policy and keep his colleagues up to the mark, besides forwarding public business. Certainly the only portfolio he should hold is that of Finance, but there are so many State activities dependent on finance that it would be well for the Premier to content himself with being the power behind the Minister rather than assuming the office himself.